Spring lubricating tool



June 27; 1933. v. E. CARVER 1,915,269

SPRING LUBRICA TING TOOL Filed Feb. 9, 1931 I? were $07? w? 5 arv/er Mam Patented June 27, 1933 UNrren stares ASSIGNQP, 0F ONE-FDURTI-i TO VINCENT E. AIN'D OIJE FOURTH 'll') LEWIS H. TRIPLET'I,

viilm E. oARvn-Ii, oaorrroaeo, I Lmrrors,

RUTH, ONE- FOURTH TO LEO W. EEANESY ALL or CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

earner QFFECE .mmwmx SPRING LUBRICATING TOOL Application filedfebruary 9, 1931. Serial t. 514,352.

This invention relates to a spring lubricating tool. I

Tools designed to spread apart the leaves of a leaf spring such as is used in automo biles and the like, and to forcea lubricating medium into the space between the spring thusrspread, are old in the art. These prior art devices, of which I am aware, are 0'? little i they extend so far laterally from the springs,

when they are in position to spread them,

that they cannot be used on modern automobiles. As is well known by those skilled in the art, the splashfapron, steering mechanism rod, brake mechanism rods, etc. are frequently located substantially parallel and 5 within an inch or soof the spring itself, so that a tool to be useful in spreading the springs of these modern cars must be capable of operating in this very restricted'place.

My present invention providesa simple and inexpensivetool which can be successfully employed to spread the springs of 'a modern automobile and to force a lubricating medium between the springs so spread. The typical tool of my invention in its preferred form isprovid'ed in two forms, the one a manually operated tool suitable for use in garages and the like where the number of springs to be greased per day is not err-- cessively large. Thesecond form Of'tlle in vention provides an automatically operating tool designed to be operated by air pressure and is suitable for use in greasing stations 4 where a large number of springs must be greased'in a comparatively short time.

In thepreferred' embodiment of my invention, a U-shaped framework isprovided and equipped with a pair of substantially comcal points located near the free ends of the legs of the frame. One of these points terminates being forced spring is spread into the space between adin a' pin which is movable through the leg of the frame, this movement being caused by a high gain lever system carried by the frame and operated either by the manual lever pivoted to the closed end of the frame orby a fluid pressure cylinder located at th closed end of the frame.

The leg of the frame carrying the fixed point is provided with a duct or channel through which a lubricant may be forced. This duct communicates with a plurality of ports located around the point, thelubricant through these ports when the acent leaves of the spring.

The invention can-best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred embodiment of it is shownway of example and in which:

Figure l is section of the manually operated tool; 7

an elevational view partlyin Figure 2 is an end view ofthe stationary point and sm'rounding ports drawn to an enlarged scale;

is a crosssectional view of this Figure 3 point and port taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

F igure is a detail view of an arrangement for holding the movable pin in the frame;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of pressure operated tool; and

Figure (3 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5 showing the lubricant duct control arrangement.

, Referring detail, Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional View of a spring 1, which may be a spring of an automobile truck. bus or the like. This spring is composed of a plurality of separate leaves which are held together by U-shackles in the usual manner.

In modern automobiles these springs are from two to three inches in width and are composed of. a plurality of leaves.

The tool frame 2 may be composed of cast now to the drawing in more P steel or if desired may be a steel dropforging. On one leg 3 of this frame is disposed the fixed point 4:, while on the opposite leg 5 a longitudinally slidable pin 6 is located so that its axisv coincides with the axis of the point 4. Thisleg 5 also carries a lever 7 pivoted to a screw bolt or rivet 8 located in a socket 9 in the outer end of this leg 5. The lever 7 extends along this leg 5 and is connected to. a cross link 10 near the closed end of the frame. I 7

An operatinghandle 11 is pivoted at 12 to bosses located on the closed end of the frame, and" the link 10 is connected to this handle in any preferred manner such as by the bolt 13. Thus it will be seen that if the handle 11 is rotated in a clockwise direction about its pivot 12, through the link 10 it will move the lever 7 and thereby cause it to move thepin 6 to the left. This forces the/pointed end of the pin into the space between theadjacent otherwise suitably secured in the leg 3 of the I leaves of the spring 1 and since the fixed point 4 is aligned on the crack between the same pair of leavesit also will be forced into that crackand the leaves will thereby be spread.

Since the leverage gain through the handle a 11,. link 10 andlever 7 is high, it is very easy for a man operating the lever ll to force the pin into the crack between adjacent leaves of a springwithout taking the weight ofii of that spring, this being true for the largest cars now on thelmarket. Obviously by suitablereapportioning of the leverage the toolv vmay be adapted for use in spreading the springs of large busses and trucks.

As will be seen in Figures 2 and 3the fixed point& is preferably formed as a part of a 15 which is threaded into a socket or frame. Located concentrically around this point 4 are a plurality of ports 16 which communicate with a grease duct 17 located on the leg 3 of the frame.

As shown, this duct comprises a semiflexible cable 18 and a suitable fitting for'permitting its connection with the usual.high pressure greasing guns such. as are found in garages and greasing stations. When the lever 11 ISOPGYtLtQd to its fullest 1 extent and the pin'6 isthereby forced between the adjacent leaves of a spring the grease gun, not shown, connected to the nipple 19 of the grease ductl? is operated to force a quantity of lubricant through this duct and the port -16 into the space between the leaves. Normally the tool is positioned upon the spring so that it is located at substantially right angles to the parting line of the leaves that are to be separated, in which position one of the ports'16 in the plug 15 is aligned with that parting line- Since there are a plurality of portsg'three being shown in Figure 2 by way of example, it is not necessary to definitely align the tool at right angles to i the spring in. order to bring one of these ports proper alignment with the .space between the leaves when spread, and the tool therefore can be used at various angles with respect to the spring to permit it to spread spring leaves which are more or less inaccessible.

Aswill be seen in Figure 5 in which the spreading pin is shown in its operated 'posi .tion, i. e. with the spring leaves spread, the

edge of the spring adj acentv the fixed point is pressed firmly against the leg 3 of the frame and in this position the edges of the leaves of the spring block the ports 16 which are not aligned with the opening caused by spreading the leaves. The quantity 'of grease that escapes from these blocked ports is so small as to be negligible and the grease from the gun is forced through the unblocked port into the space between the leaves that are spread.

The pin 6 is loosely and held therein in any convenient manner such'as by the spring 20 which is provided with a hook 521 which registers with a hole 22 in the end of the pin 6. The opposite end of the spring 20 is attached to the lever 7 in any mg proper length can be inserted by reversing the operation.

,Frequently it will be desirable to lock the tool with the springs spread, and to this end I have provided a latch 25 slidably mounted upon the lever 11 and engageable with sockets 26 located \Vhen the latch 25 ,is moved up in Figure 1, its free end engages one of the sockets 26 and holds the lever 11 against movement in either direction. r

4 When the lever 11 is moved tothe right at the completion of the greasing of a pair of leaves, the levers 10 and 7 are likewise moved and the pressure upon the adjacent leaves which are seperated is communicated through the sloping surfaces of the fixed points 4: and the in 6 to move these points out of the space Between the springs. The tool is thus released from the spring and moved to permit the insertion of its points .rangement shown is capable of being, used onany modern automobile now'encountered.

The leverage of the. lever system is ample fitted into the frame on theend. of the frame 2.

to permit a man to easily spread'the springs methods employed heretofore from two and one half to three hours have been required for this same operation. I

The tool shown in Figure 1 lncorporates a grease duct 18 as an integral part of it, and

in most instances this is advantageous. Un der certain circumstances this duct may be advantageously omitted and the tool used solely for the purpose of spreading the spring leaves, the lubricating being accomplished separately. A fish tail nozzle on the usual high pressure gun 1S convenient for such purpose, this nozzle beingused after the tool is locked in its operated position with the spring leavesspread. Many car owners prefer that a graphite paste lubricant be placed between the springs with a knife, like spreader, and this may conveniently be done while the springs are spread with my improved tool. r

Although the tool shown in Figures 1V to 4. greatly speeds up the greasing of spr1ngs,. and at the same time more thoroughly greases them than'has been possible heretofore, I

have provided an automatically operating,

tool particularly designed for use in greasing stations and the like to enable the attendants'thereof to grease the spring while the car owner waits for his car. As willbe seen in Figure 5, this embodiment of my invention comprises a similar U-shaped frame having legs and 31, in the leg 30 of which is located a, fixed point 32, while the leg 31 carries a movable pin 33. Both of these points are conical as before. A lever 34 is pivoted at 35 to the frame and extends down the leg 31 of it.

At the closed end of the frame I have pro vided a transversely disposed cylinder 36 in one end of'which is located a piston 37 which is held therein in any convenient manner such as by the collar 38 threaded in the open end of that cylinder.v A lever 39- connects this piston to the free end of the lever 34. The closed end of the tool is also provided with a handle 40 in'which is a duct 41 lead-' ing to a source 42 of fluid pressure which maybe compressed air such as is available in -garages and service stations. A valve 43 normally blocks this duct 41 and the cylinder 36 is drained of pressurebytheleak port 44 located adjacent this valve 43' When the valve is moved to the right, its port 45 is aligned with the air-duct 41 and pressure from the source 42 is admitted to the cylin causing it to move the levers 39 and 34 to thereby move the pin 33 intothe space between adjacent levers of the spring.

The point 32 is surrounded by ports as is shown in detail in Figure .3, which ports communicate with a lubricating duct located in the leg 30 of the frame; This duct communicates with the left hand end, Figure 5, of the cylinder 36, which is separatedfrom the piston end of the'cylinder by ainovable tight fitting wall 51, limited in its movement by any convenient manner such asthe split ring 52. The cylinder thus formed to the left of the sliding wall 51 communicates with the lubricating duct 50 and also with a nipple 53 by which a lubricating medium is forced into it from a high pressure lubricating gun S1]1:3h as is in common use in garages and the li *e.

Attached to the lever 34 is a valve. stem 54 which extends crosswise of the frameand when the lever isin its inoperative position the valve 55 carried bythe stem blocks the port 50 and prevents the escape of grease from the grease cylinder 56 through the duct 50 and the ports located around the point 32.

As the lever 34 is moved to the rightinto the position in which itis shown in Figure 5, valve 55 is retracted so that it no longer blocks this port and the pressure in thecylinder 36 acting on the dividing wall 51 forces lubricant in the lubricating cylinder 56 ios through this duct 50 and the port into the can be made to completely block'the duct 50 so that the springs may be spread for inspecthan without forcing any lubricant between them. v

. The cylinder 56 carries a considerable quantity of grease and by suitable proportioning of the cylinder this quantity can be made large enough to completely lubricate the springs of a car without having to refill the tool.

The pin 33 is one of a plurality of pins permit f adapting} the tool, to the various v widthsaof springs. encountered 011 modern 7 automobiles. Asflshown, the pin 33; isheld fin-the frame leg 31 by the joint action of the endfof the lever 34' and the spring ressed ball 63. Thisball 63 is spring pressec into a socketformedinithe endof the pin in the (manner now commonly; used: in socket wrenches and well understood by those skilled r in thje lart. This showing is made by way of of Figure 1, and conversely the latter pin 6- exampleonly as the pin 33 may be-retained in'theframe in the same manner lSlS pin may also be provided withafballfifi in lieu of the spring, arrangement shown.

Thespecific details of the tool shown in Figur 5 may be va'ried withinthe' teachings of my, invention. The grease duct shown as located within .the frame leg may be formed as a pipe located outside of that leg.

,The dividing wall 51may be fixed, instead ofmovably fitted inthe cylinder, and the movement of lubrication then controlled by .the'gun, not shown, attached to the nipple vPreferably the frame of this tool is made of 1 cast; steel as, is the frame of thepreviously explained embodiment; a

The operation of the tool shown in Figure 5 is, obvious, it is simple and entirely auto- .matic so that an operator may 'rapidlyrspread and lubricate the springs of a vehicle without difliculty. I have shown the specific embodi- -ment byway of example only. as it may be modified to meeteparticular requirements withintheteaching of my invention. 1

" ment of my invention, what I consider new) Havingfthus complied with/the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiand desire to'have protected by Letters'Pa't ent is pointed out in the appended claims;

,What is claimedis i 15A leaf spring lubricating 'deviceicoinprising arigid Ushapedframe, a pair of opposed conical points supported on saidaf m near its openend, one of said points being fixed and the other movable, a lover pivoted "-tothe free end of said frame adjacent to and 'engageable with said movable point, a second lever pivoted to the closed end of said frame,

' alink'connecting said levers to causea movement of thesecond to move the first and thereand a greasing means carried by said frame "and including ports adjacent said fixed point.

by move the'movable point toward the fixed,

QQA'lubriCating tool comprising a'U-shaped the leaves adjacent the free ends of-the legs frame adapted to he slipped over a leaf i spring and located thereon with the edges of located in the other leg, of said frame, a grease duct in said leg communicating with a plurality of ports evenly spaced around said fixed point, said points being forced between adjacent leaves of the spring by a longitudinal movement of said pin to permit forcing a lubricant through said duct and. ports into thespace therebetween.

3. The combination of a rigid U-shaped frame, a stationary conical point disposed in one legvofsaid frame near the open end thereof, a pointed pin slidablyv located in the opposite leg ofsaid frame and'in align- Y ment with said point, a lever pivoted to said latter leg adjacent said pin, said lever engaging said pin, a second lever pivoted to the frame at its closed'end, a link connecting said levers to cause a movement of one of them to move the other and thereby move sa1d pm, and a grease connection on said frame communicating with ports located adjacent said-point. V i l. The combination of a rigid U-shaped frame, a stationary conical point disposed in one leg of said frame near the open end thereof, a pointed'pin slidably located in the opposite leg of said frame and in alignment with said point, a lever, pivoted to said latter leg adjacentsaid pin, said lever engaging said pin and extending beyond the closed end of said frame, means holding said pin in said frame, a second lever pivoted to the frame at its closed end, a link 7 connecting said levers to cause a movement of one of them to. move the other and there-' by move said pin, and a grease connection on said frame communicating with ports located adjacent said point.

The combination of a'rigid U-shaped frame, a stationary conical point disposed in one leg'of said frame near the open end thereof, a pointed pin slidably located in the opposite leg of said frame and in alignment with said point, a lever pivoted to said latter leg between said pin and the free end'of the leg, saidlever engaging said pin and extending beyond the closed end of said frame, a secondlever pivoted to the frame at its closed end, a link connecting said levers to cause a movement of one of them to move the other and thereby move said pin,.a latch onsaid frame for holding said latter lever in its set position, and a grease connection onsaid frame communicating with ports located adjacent said point.

6. Thecombination of a rigid U-shaped 'frame,-astationary conical point disposed in one leg of saidframe near the open end thereof, a pointed pin slidably located in the opposite leg ofsaid frame and in alignment with said point, a lever pivoted to sa1d latter leg "between said pin and the free end of the leg, said lever engaging said pin, means ontsaid lever engaging said pin to hold it in said frame, a second lever pivoted to the frame at its closed end, a link connecting said levers to cause a movement of one of them to move the other and thereby move said pin, and a grease connection on said frame communicating With ports located adjacent each point.

.In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3d day of February,

VERN E. CARVER. 

